Organize

     For a long time I have wanted to get more organized in accomplishing the chores I need to complete around the house. Too many have been going undone as I have tried to keep up with the chores that daily need done and take up much of my time. I have looked at a couple ideas of organizing myself and this past week I started to write my chore chart of what I would accomplish each day. It still seemed daunting however, as I realized the daily things took up enough time that it made it hard to do anything else and still have plenty of time to play with my girls. Then I spent the weekend at my brother’s house watching his six kids.

     I always knew my brother had married a wonderful women but I saw that even more this weekend as I saw how her house ran. Their children range in ages from 18 months to 11 1/2 years old. It was amazing to see all of them excluding the baby take care of chores before they left for school and again when they returned home. Each of them was assigned a small duty to perform before breakfast. For most of them it took no longer than five minutes to complete but, the collective effort took the pressure of me feeling I needed to keep up with cleaning after six kids. When they returned home they all had a chore outside taking care of the animals. The tasks assigned were each small, but with everyone pitching in even those chores took less than five minutes.

     I was able to see in action the old saying, "Many hands, make light the work." I realized I haven't been using my resources as well as I should. I have a husband, three kids, and a nephew who could all pitch in to help with the little tasks that take up so much time in my day. If they all helped out with those little jobs it would leave me with extra time to do the other needed chores that so often were neglected. With her ideas in tow as well as some of my own I sat down Sunday and created my own family chore chart that I am confident will work!

     Everyone now has a small morning chore they should do before leaving for work or school. I team up with the two youngest as we get to stay home together. I will have them do the same little chore each morning for the week so it is easier to remember what their job is.(Mostly this is for Cora but I am sure Jeremy and my nephew will benefit from this as well) Along with their daily chore they have been assigned a weekly chore they have the week to accomplish.

     I have tried and failed many different tactics to get chores done. I realized this weekend that most importantly I have failed to give my children responsibility. They have always helped me with jobs but the responsibility was mine not theirs. While assigning out jobs last night I realized how mistaken I have been. Cora was so excited to have a job she was in charge or that she wanted to sweep and mop right then. She did her morning chore like a veteran and Brooke and Ally did a wonderful job too.

     In principle I know I should have been doing this all along but, I just haven’t seen it in practice in a way that encouraged me to take action. After day one, even with subbing half the day I feel I accomplished more than I do in a typical day. I am so thankful that even though I may not be around my siblings very often, I can still learn from them just as much as I did when we were together growing up.